Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-26
THE MAD LOVER
BY G.. WALDO BROWNE.


before, but Lang Mitchell has es'
capped from his keepers and is at
liberty"
Alice Durand's fair face turned
pale at her friends announcement.
"You do not mean it, Bessie
You are trying to frighten me-"
"No; am not, Alice. Mad Lang
Mitchell has really escaped from the
B asylum, and as late as noon
to-day he had not been found. But
there, don't look so white; you nor
I have nothing to fear. 1 had for
gotten he was one of your discard
ed suitors. Singular, wasn't it,
your rejection should have driven
him crazy ~
"Bessle West " exclaimed the
other, reproachfully; Chow can you
speak so gave Mr.. Mitchell to I'M
derstand from the first that he could
not win my favor. Still he would
press his suit, until l became engag'
ed to Frank Lane, when | positively
refused 10 see him. He went away
uttering such fearful threats that |
can never forget them. You know
that insanity is hereditary in the
family. Lang had a sister in DR..
SIS private asylum when he used
to visit me, and he appeared at
times to lose his reason. l always
feared him, but never cared for
him. | feel for him In his affection,
but | am certainly in no way to
blame. There, mother will be look
ing for me, and l must hasten
home"
IL will 90 with you, Allie"
"Oh, no; you need not. | am
rot afraid"
"But it is awful lonesome through
Black Hollow woods, and If you
should meet Lang"
"Nonsense, Bess West; | will
show you that | am not AFRAID"
and with light laugh she started
homeward, leaving her friend to
watch her departure.
Allie was somewhat startled to
find that the sun had set, and that
night was fast creeping on. But
rather than to be laughed at after
boasting OF her courage, she re-
solved not to turn back.
The truth was, Bessie's careless
speech had wounded her feelings
sorely, and as she walked along
her mind became engrOssed with
unpleasant thoughts of Lang Mitch
ell, the escaped lunatic.
His misfortune was certainly not
chargeable to her, though she could
not help wishing that a different
tate might have been his.
Filled with these conflicting med
itations she hardly realized her pro-
gress until reaching Black Hollow,
one of the most gloomy spots to be
found in that vicinity. Under the
somber woods it was already quite
dark.
She quickened her steps as she
came within the shadows of the
oyerhanging forest that lined the
road on either hand.
She had not advanced far, how
ever, when the sound of footsteps
fell upon her ears
CHANGING wildly over her shout
der she saw to her terror that some
one was following her.
With a second glance she saw
that her worst fears were realized.
II ,cas mad Lang Mitchell !
Seeming to divine her discovery,
he gave utterance to shrill, mani
acal laugh, which made her blood
curdle and heart fairly cease its
beating.
Her first thought was to cry for
help; bat in that lonely place she
could not hope for an answer to her
appeal.
With a wild, agonizing scream
she fled for life.
His frantic cries making the
evening air hideous, the mailman
rushed in pursuit.
Terror seemed to lend wings and
strength to the fleeing girl, who
sped on like a fawn, expecting to
be overtaken at every Dound Of her
wild pursuer.
But he proved clumsy runner,
and at first she outdistanced him.
Her hopes began to rise as she be-
gan to feel that it was possible for
her to escape him.
His superior strength, however,
soon began to count IN his favor.
She began to lose ground
His cries grew more frequent and
terrible. She had passed the dark
er portion of the way and was near
ing the edge of the forest but her
home was still half a mile away,
and it was the first house on the
road
Perhaps we should except one
old dwelling that stood close to the
woods, which had not been Occu-
pied for years, and the walls OF
which were fast yielding to the in
roads of time.
AS the hunted maiden came IN
sight of the deserted building she
resolved as her only alternative to
seek its shelter.